Fake Plants and Boxes, Wasps and Raccoons

Oct 23, 2014

If you follow me on social media you may have seen that it has been a very interesting week for me this week in Texas. Chris has an apartment here while we are living our lives apart---trying to sell the house in Mason City---balancing a marriage and life and new job and all that that entails.  It isn't easy but we have been in this place before and we can do it.  We both really miss each other but try to make the best of the situation. His 1 bedroom apartment is nice and quite …

Musings from Texas

Oct 20, 2014

Can I just go on record to say that I love Texas?  I love the bigness of it.  I love the food.  I love the people.  I love that politeness reigns everywhere.  I love the "yes, ma'am" and opening doors for people. I love that the people I have encountered here are polite and generous and happy to share with me. My flight was simple and easy---bumped up to first class where this time instead of Drunk Steve as a seat mate I had Quiet Joe who barely even acknowledged my existence until we landed …

Recapitulation

Aug 11, 2014

I took a few days off and I am very glad that I did.  I did not totally disconnect from social media---I still posted a few tweets, Facebook statuses and even checked on a few blogs but I did not write any posts.  Mr. Diamond came home and the above picture shows that the whole weekend was a thumbs up! The first thing I realized was that Chris was coming in on Thursday instead of Friday like I thought!  It helps if you actually look at the email with the ticket info, right?  It's all good---I …

Don’t Be Too Late

Jul 21, 2014

A while back I read a book entitled "500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late" by Jane and Michael Stern.  In it the authors detail a lot of great foods that need to be eaten in a lifetime.  I must admit that when it comes to food I am usually pretty adventurous.  I have eaten things that I never dreamed I would eat.  On a recent trip to see my mom I forced encouraged her to watch a couple of episodes of Bizarre Food America on the Travel Channel starring Andrew Zimmern and to say it was eye …

Wordless Wednesday—Texas Forever!

Jul 16, 2014

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Sometimes First Class Isn’t

Jul 14, 2014

My recent trip home from Texas was….how shall we say ….interesting.  You never know what you are going to encounter when you travel these days and this trip was the perfect example of how the unexpected is just that. Unexpected.  But it makes great content for a blog post so feel free to pour yourself a glass of iced tea (maybe even sweet tea to salute Texas) and settle in for a spell while I weave my yarn. The day started out early with Chris dropping me off at the Dallas Fort Worth airport. …

First Day Nerves

Jul 7, 2014

Remember that first day of school? Remember the first time you had to speak in front of the class? How about your first date? Or the first day on the very first job? Today I am feeling some of those butterfly in the stomach emotions. But not for me. Mr. Diamond starts a new job today.  After 5 months of being together almost every single day we are now geographically separated. He's in Texas. I'm in Iowa.  It's a good thing.  Work is a very good thing.  A new job is really a …

Slightly Savory Saturday

May 31, 2014

From this……..   To this!!!!!!!!Living in North Carolina for 9 + years afforded me the chance to sample all kinds of great BBQ.  Visits to see Micah in Texas found me seeking out even more BBQ.  I love it all.  Imagine my excitement when I realized that I could make some myself in the comfort of my little ole' home with the help of my crockpot and 3 --count them on one hand----ingredients.   It features the favorite beverage of son number 2 whose 26th birthday arrives next week.  So …

Wordless Wednesday

Sep 11, 2013

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A Little Escape

Mar 29, 2012

I love it when a plan comes together!   I have wanted to redo a little nook in my bathroom for awhile and have been "formulating" ideas for awhile.  Along with the formulating included acquisitions.  Of course.   Always the shopper.  I had an idea to turn my little corner of the master bath into my personal beach retreat.  I love the beach.  I love all things associated with the beach. The sun. The sounds.  The birds.  The smells .  The feel of the sand.  My favorite memories are associated with …