Sunday Evening at Happy Valey Park

Sunday evening after church, we had a rare night off. We took that opportunity to do something as a family and by Melanie's suggestion we visited Happy Valley Park that is close to our home. Plan was that we,

1.Play

2. Take some portrait pictures









3. Take a walk and appreciate scenery





4. Eat a picnic...(it was freezing cold and we had to eat it in the car on our way home)

5. We moved on to the next list on the addenda...race back to the car!!

Field Trip with Dragon Fighter (На работу с папочкой)

It is a Spring Break week! So kids spent more time with Dragon Fighter...one these days, he took them to work with him (I was there, near by, to record this eventful day)..Agenda of the day: research potential raw land purchase with clients..

While Dragon Fighter worked hard for his money, Melanie and Alina got up close and personal with the main ingredient there- dirt...they sure were enjoying themselves, not minding little bit rain we had that day.

Getting a new perspective on Spring...

From time to time, I am getting these e-mails from Pam, I was so moved by this one, that I had to share this with you...enjoy.

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What if we had to pay for Spring?

I imagined my husband saying,

"Pam, we have to talk."

"What?"

"With the economy the way it is right now, we just
don't have the money to pay for a full blown spring.
So you're gonna have to make some decisions about
what you absolutely have to have bloom as far as your
roses go and we REALLY have a tree dilemma!"

"A tree dilemma? What d'ya mean?"

"I mean you're gonna have to pick which ones you want
to leaf out and which ones we can leave bare. We can't
afford to pay for them all. Like I know how much you love
the walnut tree, but do you have any idea how many leaves
have to go on just that one tree to fill it out? And then
there are the birds."

"What about the birds?"

"We just can't afford to bring 'em all in this year. Do
you realize how much it costs to travel these days? So
again, you need to decide which birds you can do without.
You can choose ONE. Pick a bird."

"Pick a bird?"

"That's what I said."

"But I need my Rufuses, and the robins and the finches
and the chickadees and my quail and my crows and those
little "walnut" birds (they're really called bushtits but
I don't like that name) oh and I have to have my blue
birds!"

"I wish we could afford all of 'em, Honey, but just take
those blue birds for example, they ship from 3,000 miles
away! And as much as you love the robins, the cost of
feathers (especially red ones) has gone up 150% in the
last year. Oh and those humming birds you love so much
are energy guzzlers and we just can't afford to have
them this year. Pick a bird."

When I came out of my fantasy dialogue I was filled with
gratitude! Spring is FREE! ALL my trees get to leaf,
ALL my roses get to bloom, ALL my birds get to come,
ALL my chipmunks, squirrels, deer, bob cats, elk, yes
and even bear and cougar will be enjoying a very free
spring right along with me.

Thank you God!

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If you want to learn more about Pam, visit her web-site www.thebratfactor.com

Marina thru the years...

Here is my pictures thru the years age 6 thru 15. I just thought I share this with you...and make you smile :)

Bathroom towel shelf

Here is what I like about this simple layout...towel shelf, first, it visually blocks view of the toilet when you first come in. Second it is very handy when the bathroom does not have lots of storage space... you just grab one as you need it...and this is my favorite thing of the day :)

Main Bath decorating idea

My little Bro got me an idea that I should post my favorite decorating ideas...I really like this bathroom.

Anyone can remodel their existing washroom, usually on the main floor, into something like this, it has its costs, of course, but what the outcome!

Start with the sponge off wall that will give its romancing feeling. Rock columns with the outside-style porch lights is in the great combination with the copper sink and small round mirror just finish it off perfectly.

If you are interested, this house is for sale. Visit www.rmls.com and refer to MLS# 9014115

Organizing Tip #1

I love organizing, label makers, boxes, etc. So I am stating organizing tips that I'll share with you that I've read here and there to keep motivating myself as well (I love to read about but doing it yourself if a totally different cup of tea).

So today tip is about organizing your kitchen/office/garage/laundry cabinets and let them stay this way, here is what girls and I did last week over at Dragon Fighter's mom kitchen.

Step 1. Clean your kitchen cabinets and get read out of all junk (Thank you Dina for all your hard work!)





and here is another one with Medifast food



Step 2. Take a picture of your newly organized kitchen/office/garage/laundry cabinet.

Step 3. Print a picture using your home printer or go to Walgreens

Step 4. Put that picture inside of your cleaned cabinet




And here is the one with that Medifast food



And now when our little sis Lana would visit mom from California and would like to help to unload the dishwasher, the only thing she has to do is to open random cabinet, look at the picture and she'll know where that beautiful red china is going! Way to go! See, now I am all ready and fired up to go and finish ironing that last load of clothes from last week :)