Just Stroll-ing Along . . .

It was so nice having a long weekend after the horrible week Brian and I experienced.

Friday I only worked a half-day, so we ran errands and went to the drive-in (Sahara & The Longest Yard) - didn't get home until 3am.
Saturday was really busy - we went down to the Erie St. Market and had breakfast - ran into Annalise and her family - back to the grocery store and then home to cook & clean for Mar's surprise birthday party. She was VERY surprised! We had a good time, but poor Jonah got sick. Aww, little guy.
Sunday I ran to Mar and Dad's for a bit for laundry, and then we had Bohnsack over leftover party food.
Yesterday we took a flag over to my Grampa's grave and sat a bit. Then we headed over to Kelly and Craig's house for a party and yay - Francie's havin' a baby soon! Baby Connor.
So basically it was a good way to end last week and to start out this week. Good things to look forward to this week:
Old West End festival!
Genoa Homecoming!
Maybe a new baby Sophie!
Arrival of my KitchenAid mixer!
Payday!

I'm not sure if Bran's dad said this, or if it was Don Kistler, but I have been thinking of it for a few days - "God has more grace than we have sin." Also, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2
That's been keeping me going the last few days.

Today I ordered my Kitchenaid mixer! I am very excited about it. I hate my hand mixer . . . it is evil. Anyways, I should get it in the beginning of June. I got it from Amazon.com, which is great, because I got it for $50 less than it normally retails for, and I also got free shipping.
And it's CITRON!

Happy Birthday, Mar!

George Eliot once said, "I think my life began with waking up and seeing my mother's face." That's how I feel about my Mar.

I love you, Mar!

Yesterday Brian and I spent a nice afternoon with Mar out at my grandparent's house. We sat around, ate pizza and just hung out. I love my grandparents. Poppy is always so funny and Grannie smells so good all the time. We'd been there about an hour and Poppy was like, "Hey Sadie you haven't hugged me yet!" and gave me a big hug. Awww, Poppy!
Brian worked all day Saturday, so I hung out with Bethany in the morning and with Coaties in the evening. I should have planted more flowers, but I was too worn out. I'll get them done this week. After Brian paints the planter box, I have a whole flat of petunias for that, but I also need to get 4 or 5 hanging baskets and some flowers to put in them.
I didn't get a ton of reading done over the weekend, but today during lunch I went to Wildwood and read until Brian and the dogs got there and we ate.
Anyhow . . . not much else. We're going shopping after I get off work to buy a new dresser and then we're going to Bonnie's for dinner.
Oh and Brandon - I bid on a copy of When Life and Beliefs Collide on eBay and won - with shipping and everything it was only 9 bucks!

Brian got his new rims and tires, so we took a little trip to B & N. I picked up Chaim Potok's The Chosen (which I had previously read), Agatha Christie's Murder On the Orient Express, and the one I'm most excited about, Mark Perry's Grant and Twain: The Story of an American Friendship. I started that last night and so far it's meeting my expectations.
Also, George did not die last night on CSI - however, he was buried alive and half-eaten by fire ants. But he's alive!

So I was just made aware that the Tigers are playing the YANKEES @ Comerica on 7/1, 7/2 and 7/3 . . . what a wonderful weekend that will be! I think Brian and I will have to go at least twice! The Tigers are also playing the Rangers on 5/31, 6/1 and 6/2, but that is not as exciting as my Yankees.

Song of the day:

Clear Spot by the Pernice Brothers

If George dies tonight on CSI, I am NEVER watching it again.

So I finally went over to the new section of the mall last night and checked out their Borders. I wish it was like the 3-story one in Chicago, but it isn't. And it doesn't have that great a selection of really anything. I did, however, finally pick up a copy of Eucalyptus by Murray Bail. It's supposed to be fab. They didn't really have anything else I was looking for and their prices are pretty jacked up. Oh well.
The new part also has a few new restaurants ... Brian and I want to go to The Claddagh Irish Pub. Maybe we'll check that out this weekend.

To see some lovely photos, go to iEyre.com. He's the brother-in-law of an old friend and very talented.

I enjoy perusing other blogs, I really do, but for those of you who are reformed, please read someone other than Douglas Wilson. It's becoming a drag going over people's "must-read" lists. He has written some things that I like, but good grief, he is not the only author out there. Do yourself a favor and read a book by someone else . . . anyone!

So let's see . . . on Saturday Brian finished working on my Pappy's car while I did laundry and hung out over at my parent's house. Then later on we had a friend over - we ate supper - Brian went to bed - and she and I ran around for a while (Target, TJMaxx) - came back home and lounged. Sunday afternoon Brian and I rented 'Phantom' - finally - I had been dying to see it and we both loved it. We also went over to his Dad's for a while and I baked a lemon pound cake. Monday I only had a half-day, so we ran errands and cuddled and watched the last episode of 'Raymond' - I really don't understand why everybody thinks that show is so wonderful. There are some funny parts to it, but mostly I just think it's silly.
Anyway. . . that about sums the last few days up pretty well. Now I must attempt to plan out our vacation. Oh, Mindy and Brandon are going to meet up with us - probably in Williamsburg. How lovely!

Brian and I are in the midst of planning our 1 year anniversary vacation. We had wanted to go out to Seattle and take a short Alaskan cruise, but our funds are limited this year, so we're saving that for the 2nd anniversary. This year we're going to be spending time in D.C., Arlington, Monticello, Williamsburg, and for just lying around, possibly Virginia Beach, Chincoteague & Assateague. We're really looking forward to a nice, relaxing vacation! Brian has been working like a dog for a long time and really deserves to get away and have fun. So we're trying to plan (well, I am) out a list of things we'd like to see and do and plan out our route.
Yay for vacations!

By the way . . . if anyone ever wants to buy me anything, I could always use a gift card/certificate to any bookstore (B&N, Borders, Books-A-Million, Amazon.com, etc). I REALLY love books. Brian thinks I have too many! He asks, "Didn't you just get a new book last week? Why don't you read that?" and I"ll say, "Honey, I've already read it . . . three times." One always needs new books!

I just have to say how much I love my husband. I really, really do. Sometimes I wonder how it's possible we can love so much . . . and then I just praise God for giving us so much love for each other.

Yesterday I only had to work at the lab, and Brian had the day off,-yes he actually gets one day off a week- so after I got home from work (about 12:15), we went to Lowe's and got a few supplies, came home and he built me an 8 ft. planter box and I planted a bunch of flowers in our "side yard." We also walked down to our former neighbors, visited for a while, had a lovely meal and watched The Simpsons (4th season). We had quite the loverly day! Today when I get home, I think I'm going to plant the rest of the flowers, make my handsome hubby dinner and relax.

Had a doctor's appointment today . . . I was nervous, but my doctor assured me that everything is still looking good and nothing new going on. I have become paranoid and I was thinking that I was going to have to have surgery again . . . but yay! I don't!

When I posted my recommendation for Girl Meets God, I had only read it once. I am now almost finished reading it for the second time. I'm enjoying it even more than I did the first time.

Just a recommended watching:
Dear Frankie, directed by Shona Auerbach, starring Emily Mortimer and Gerard Butler