Lessons learned

Lessons retaught and hopefully, learned this week include-

Go to your girlfriends or gay friends for sympathy and a bi+ch session. Guys want to fix or solve everything.

If a problem can be fixed with money (reasonable amount, not Trump sized), it's not really a problem. (Thanks, Dad.)

The hardest lesson as a parent is letting your child fail in order to succeed. It's heartbreaking and maddening beyond belief. Especially for bright, wonderful kids who often can't get out of their own way. I have to let our sons make their own mistakes, make their own way.

Even though I rarely drink, the thought of a shot of really, really good Tequila with salt and a lime sounds enticing. A piece of chocolate will have to do.

Do you have any wisdom or lessons to share? Thank you.

Perfect Moment Mondays - Dog Owner Edition

Welcome to Perfect Moment Mondays hosted by Lori of Weebles Webblog where bloggers warm their hands and feet on the comforting fires of mindfullness and appreciation.

Todays' Perfect Moment is brought to us care of our 15 month old puppy, Charley.


This is Charley. (He says, "Don't blame me for the messy room, I just nap here.")




These are the hills and mountains near our house where we go on hikes with the dog.


There are lots of rattlesnakes in the hills and they are an important part of the ecosystem, keeping vermin populations controlled.(Vermin is such a fun word, don't you think? Sounds way cooler than rodents. Sorry, I digress. Also, I did not take this picture, it is a file photo from the Park Service.)

Last summer, we took Charley to a Snake Avoidance clinic which trains the dog to show Zero interest in the sight, sound, or smell of snakes with the use of a trainer and electric shock collar.

Three weeks ago, we went hiking with the dog and saw a 3 foot long black Rattlesnake right next to the trail. My husband was fascinated of course and examined it from a safe distance. He counted 7 rings on the rattle. The dog is usually always interested in what his humans are doing and especially when it involves small creatures, but Not This Time! Charley sat right at my feet and studiously Ignored the Whole Thing!! He did just what he was trained to do when encountering a snake. I am so proud of him! Good Dog!! (Now if only I can fit him with a shock collar to keep him out of the trash.)

Friday Flowers

Spring is in full swing here in Northern Los Angeles. Here are some pictures from my garden and neighborhood.


The white lilies bloom throughout the spring and again in late summer.


My wildflower seedlings are making their presence known in the company of the bronze flax.


Pink flowers are blooming in abundance. Here are some of my geraniums. Geraniums are perennials in our hot, dry climate.


These shrubs are known as "Pink Ladies" and are noisy with large amount of bees buzzing in their blossoms.


This is my neighbor's fuschia iceplant, a great natural fire retardent.

"If you want to clear your head, get your hands dirty."

Wordless Wednesday - Yosemite Incredible

Sweets Makes the World Go Around

The Grand Prize Winner of the See's Chocolate and Organic Body Lotion 200th Post Giveaway is

Dawn S!

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34
Timestamp: 2009-04-21 14:50:24 UTC

Many thanks for playing along and I will do this again soon because it's Fun to play the Fairy Godmother. Plus, See's Chocolate is really popular and well loved!

I had never heard of See's Chocolates until I moved to California sixteen years ago despite being a Hardcare Chocoholic. I have also traveled quite a bit and had the pleasure of discovering yummy treats all over. So today I wanted to share some of my favorites. (Yes, a post devoted to sweets. I am a junkie. Too far gone for any redemption.)

In California, two of my favorite chocolates are from See's Candies and Ghiradelli Chocolates. Fresh, flavorful, fullbodied. (Hmm, sounds like a wine review.) See's Caramels and Buttercream ANYTHING and Ghiradelli's bite sized dark chocolate with mint filling are delicious favorites.

A new inductee into my Chocolate Hall of fame is The Sweet Shop at The Ahwahnee Hotel. The pastry chef makes incredible plum sized truffles and buttercreams fresh every morning. The vanilla buttercream and caramel were incredible and so satisfying without being too rich.

As we move east in the continental U.S., Enstrom's Toffees from Colorado is well worth the calories. The combination of dark chocolate and almond toffee will leave you wanting more.

I have to give Shout Outs to these Sweet Shoppes, for their ice cream and other goodies, clean, fresh flavors and general yumminess.

Hawaii - Lappert's Ice Cream (Also, if I mention the Islands,it's necessary to acknowledge Shave Ice available in every flavor of the Rainbow.)

Now that I mentioned "Shaved Ice", I can't forget Water Ice (pronounced Wood-Er Ice) available in my big sis's beautiful Philadelphia.

Ohio - Graeter's Ice Cream has chocolate chocolate chip ice cream with chips the size of your thumb.

Also in Ohio - United Dairy Farmers - World's Best Malts and Milkshakes in a convenient store, A Convenient Store!!!

New York City, Little Italy - Ferrara Bakery and Cafe - The whole experience, the delicious pastries, attentive service and unique atmosphere is sublime.

How about you? Any wonderful Sweet Shoppes that you can share? Thank you so much.

Weekend Recap

I hope you had a relaxing and restful weekend.

I kind of puttered around not getting much done in between going to the boys' softball games and obsessing over my newest I.touch game, Hidden Mysteries of Buckingham Palace. (It's a hidden object and puzzle game, very addictive and essentially impossible to complete without looking up the solutions on the help forum. Cheater, guilty as charged.) I am not a total slacker, I did do some laundry so the Dh and kids would have clean underwear. I know, what a gal. I also helped my dog groomer with her husband who is recovering from surgery. See, not a slacker, just a putterer.

It was 91 degrees here yesterday, 91 DEGREES Farenheit!! It was 55 degrees just last week. Insane. Despite the hot weather, I made fudge. Why not? I had all the fixings and I wanted some fresh fudge. Yummers.

I have taken a new approach with my garden this year. I used to buy plants and flowers and then transplant them into the garden. This year because of my success with wildflower seeds last year and the return of the perennials (California poppies, lavender verbena, and alyssum), I am forgoing the grown plants and just using seeds in my flowerbeds. My seedlings are very happy and I look forward to showing you all the results of my lack of effort. I am going Way Overboard with the amount of seeds because I just want bunches and bunches of color. Plus I read in my new favorite gardening book, "1000 Gardening Secrets", that when you remove a weed to use that spot to plant a seed which in turn will keep the weeds under control. Brilliant, opportunism at its' best.

Speaking of opportunities, (holy cow, what a lame transition), please enter my 200th post giveaway of See's Chocolate and Organic Lavender Body Lotion Here. I will announce the winner tomorrow and you have until 12 Midnight tonight to enter. Hurry, Incredibly delish chocolate and body lotion are on the line!!

Thank you for clicking over, I send my best for wonderful opportunities for you today and everyday.

Basking in the Afterglow of The Bruce Springsteen/E St.Band Concert

The Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band Concert was wonderful. They Rocked The House!! The Boss and his band set "up the Joint, that surely did not disappoint". It was great, they played for 2 hours and 45 minutes without a BREAK!!! Everything from Old Favorites, "Born to Run", "Spirit in the Night", "10th Avenue Freeze Out", some new stuff, "The Rising", and a real treat, Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" and an Irish Reel to close the show. A Wonderful Time was Had By All, including the band. You can so tell that they really, really enjoy playing and interacting with a live audience. (Which totally makes sense, cause let's face it, Bruce and the E St.Band Don't need the money!) What a special evening. Thank you, Mr.Springsteen and The E Street Band. Also, Tommy Morello of Rage Against the Machine who took my breath away with his guitar solo on the "Ghost of Tom Joad" and an Irish Reel, American Land.



This "bootleg" video is dark but the sound quality if good if you would like to hear this rousing song.

Thank you for stopping by.