Missing Paris

I normally am not one who would repeat vacations, but oh how I long for Portugal, Maderia Island and Paris. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss the food, the new desserts that we had everyday. Yeah, can you believe that. My goodness the Pasteries know how to entice you. One day we had 5 different goodies(not small by any means) and than went out to dinner. Such the life style. I didn't really think the Eiffel Tower would impress as it did. You can see it from so many view points, the view from top is the best. 360* on uniquiness. We probably spent at least an hour or more just looking out to the areas of Paris. And when those 20,000 lights come on at night, Oooh lalalalalala. The shopping is incredible, soooooo many designers, ones we have never heard of back in the goood old USA. We watched commercials
being filmed at midnight along the street with gorgeous models. The Seine River was and is magnificient. Boats everywhere ready to take you for a ride, whcih we did. Castles, hotels, antiques, museums, outside eateries,traffic, oh yeah the traffic,Josie and the Pussycats enjoying a meal out,the wonderful romance that fills the air and lets you partake, the endless photo shoots, stop here for a minute, quick did you get that picture. Laughter and more. I guess you all need to go. They are so very friendly to everyone. WE didn't feel out of place, enjoyed their company, and even though they thought Dad's humor was very DRY. Would go back tomorrow if the opportunity was there. Here's a few pictures.

A tribute to Alana

There's one in every family. She would do anything and everything for you with no given questions about why, how or who. Doesn't matter the time involved. She knows her place in life, knows her place with God, and conducts her life according. She is funny, loves to play, works hard, loves games, has an amazing touch with flowers, didn't like to dress her daughters in pink, though they have chosen to wear that color as they have gotten older, knows how to feed her family on a shoestring budget, even if no one else wanted to eat what she prepared. She has been a walker, a byclistic, a jogger, a teacher, a leader of women and now is trying to be a cancer survivor. She is my favorite sister Alana. I'm not sure why she has had to go through this horrible ordeal. Her family and friends have all learned things about themselves, she has gained an humble understanding of receiving and not feeling guilty. She says she will definitely do compassionate service with more love and not be fixed on the clock. She has found new friends that only come from having this kind of illness. I personally have found fabulous friendships who have also be afflicted with this horrible disease who I love to serve. I encourage all to support a cancer walkathon, give an extra dollar toward cancer research, find a person who is suffering from this dreadful disease and offer to help them in whatever way you can.

Last night I put a very large green vegetable on the kitchen counter and Jim says"Wow that is one large cucumber/what ya going to do with that". I think he needs to spend more time in the garden or at least in the produce section of the grocery store. Cucumber, are you kidding me!!That's a zucchini, remember. I will be making chocolate zucchini cake, fried zucchini, zucchini in salads, zucchini bread, zucchini brownies and if I had a receipe zucchini jam. Yes, I have friends who can grow these babies like no other, Huge. And they go on and on and on. You get the idea.

Shoes, why does one have so many? I guess I need to blame it on my mother, who had the most amazing shoes(not that many though). she definitey had great taste for her feet. I remember walking in her Zebra stripes when I was just 12. Oh, I was in trouble for getting the soles dirty.
I am the only size 7 in my family, so I never had to share, and the colors and designs I acquired were and are still amazing. I thought I was doing really good this summer, not buying any new ones, but last weekend at the Oregon coast the bug bit me and I came home with 4 new pair. My husband came home with 2. Do I wear them all in 1 season, are you kidding? I try really hard though. Wish I could wear open-toed shoes at work, then I really could get through them all. At least I use them, rather than let dust settle on them. I wonder if the shoe bug has bitten my daughters.